EXPERIMENTAL AUTOTRANSPLANTATION OF THE PARATHYROID-GLAND

The lateral parathyroid gland of the rabbit was resected and autotrans planted under an ear skin flap. A skin flap at the opposite side was u sed as control. The success of autotransplantation was established by microangiography of the transplant and by measuring plasma concentrati ons of parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcium and phosphorus. After 4 mont hs the animals were killed and the transplant was studied histological ly and by electron microscopy. Fourteen animals were included in the s tudy. There was an increase in PTH derived from the transplanted gland after 4-6 postoperative days. All animals developed hypocalcaemia dur ing the 3 days after transplantation. There were no significant change s in serum phosphorus. Transplantation did not alter the morphology of the distribution of the cells in the transplanted gland, which functi oned normally after the fourth postoperative day.